Michael Peeters

“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” This quote, attributed to Einstein, Feynman, and others, encapsulates the key element in achieving success in every endeavor in research and development. Whether it pertains to technical or business aspects, this principle drives the three skills that Michael constantly aims to improve: understanding, communicating, and focusing on reducing things to their core.

Currently, Michael Peeters serves as the Vice President and Sector lead of Connected Computing at imec, focussing on creating new approaches to computing, connectivity and their joint architecture, and pushing existing approaches to their utmost performance, to enable continued sustainable growth and the positive impact of computing on society in the coming decade. Previous experiences as CTO for respectively the Wireline and Wireless business lines at what is now Nokia were built on the culture, enthusiasm, and love for technology and science fostered during time as a departement director at Bell Labs, as well as the principles of Free Inquiry instilled by his Alma Mater, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

Throughout their research career, which began with a Ph.D. in Applied Physics and Photonics from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Michael has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, numerous white papers, and holds patents in the access and photonics domains. Trained as an electrotechnical engineer, he is a senior member of IEEE and a Fellow of the VUB.

Outside of work, Michael Peeters (imec) balances their quest to discover the perfect lasagna recipe with long-distance running to offset the inherent caloric intake. They accept both (he/him) and (they/them) pronouns.